One thing for sure about EB, the number of neighbors you have reduces your chances of success drastically. I mean this in a good way. :) As Carthage, I'm being ripped by Rome and Egypt at once, and I don't know that survival will be possible. Again, a good thing. Back in vanilla, I remember fighting 4 or so at once and not worrying. Oh, and the Makedonian Companion cavalry... I wasn't paying attention to them, and they flanked me! Very nice.